2011

Highs and Lows of the Year 2011

Our year of 2011 has been more than full of great and unforgettable moments,but in between these lovely moments we have also experienced the darkest ones.We have been blessed with extremely good luck and happiness, but sadly it is not enough to bring us the health and strength we would have hoped and wished.The absolutely darkest shadow covered us after Coops epileptic seizures added to the problems caused by his allergy issues.During these moments we are more than grateful to be surrounded with loving and caring friends and family.

Together after all we did pretty amazing job both in shows and tests!

We finished our show season brilliantly at Helsinki Winner shows; Patu taking the both Helsinki Winner and Finnish Winner -titles and Manta being BOB -veteran in both shows.With these wins we also sealed the IWS of the Year -competition; The son Patu being IWS of Year2011 and his dam already 10 -years old Manta being the Best Bitch! It is running in the family after all the top placements of this competition are divided among their offsprings:)We are more than proud of you all!!!Besides of showing we had also some time to attend on few blood tracking tests. We were able to start our season much later than usually after I wanted to complete my blood tracking judgerequirements as soon as possible.Totti did not mind about this delay and took straight 1st prize results in all of the tests he attented during the year.The most memorable moment is from our Regional Championship Test where he did absolute wonderful workby achieving full 50 / 50 points making him also Regional Champion 2011 and qualified him to attend onFinnish Championship Test in Blood Tracking! With these great results he is also the Working IWS of the Year 2011!Here are some more of our the most memorable moments:

NinaQualified Blood Tracking Test judge:)Totti#1 Working IWS in Finland 2011Regional Champion in Blood Tracking 2011Qualified in Finnish Championship Test in Blood Tracking5 * 1st prize in Winners Class in Blood Tracking50 / 50 points in Regional Championship TestPatuIWS OF THE YEAR 2011Finnish Winner 2011Helsinki Winner 2010 Lithuanian Winner 2010FCI 8 Group placementsBOS IWS Club Show 2011CoopMultible group winnerBest in Show placement in INT show3 * Group-1, 2 * Group-3, Group-2, Manta#1 Show IWS Bitch of the Year 2011Best in Show veteran IWS Club ShowBIS- 3 in Main Spaniel Specialty and INT showFCI 8 Group placementAfter all we have gone through we have learn to appreciate all these accomplishments more than ever!!!Never take anything for granted:)We all want to thank you for all of your support and caring during the 2011!!!Thank you also all the judges for all the appreciation!

Once again the greatest thanks goes to my parents and my brother taking such a good care of my boys as always when needed,and Petra and Manta for all these memorable moments during the year,and Anna-Lena for the greatest companion and just for being there when ever needed!and Hanna taking such a good care of us by solving always all our food issues!!

We want to wish the best of luck for Patus and Tottis offsprings for the year 2012,you are all making daddies and grandmother really proud:)

The main event of the year and typically the last shows of the year are always Helsinki Winner Showsthat are nowadays held during the two days including both Helsinki Winner and Finnish Winner Shows.These shows collected together more than 14 000 dogs!!! The biggests shows of the year!Helsinki exhibition hall is extremely appropriate and all the organisers really knew how to make this show to work its best.

On Saturday IWSs were judged under Eeva Anttinen from Finland.Patu took the breed and at the same time renewed the Helsinki Winner -title.Patu is now also Helsinki Winner 2011!Patu did absolutely amazing work in the ring, he showed like a dream with constantly wagging tail!If you looked him very closely, you could almost see him smiling:)Manta took BOB -veteran.

After the show during the afternoon Finnish Kennel Club rewarded meritorious breeders with Vuolasvirta -award.This year Seidi Linnavuori and kennel Catanka were among these amazing breeders.This was THE historical moment after no IWS breeder has achieved this award before!Seidi and Manta were looking great while accepting the award in the main exhibition hall.Congratulations party with some bubbly drinks and lovely friends was held after the ceremony.Congratulation Seidi!!! You have been doing amazing work for the breed!

On Sunday IWSs were judged under Ann Carlström from Sweden.Patu took BOS and Finnish Winner 2011, Manta being BOB -veteran and BB2.

With these shows we sealed the IWS of the year competition.IWS of the year 2011 is Patu and the best show bitch is Manta!It really runs in the family! Mother and the son did it again!!!! can you be more proud of these curly browns ones!!!I think not!!!!

Special thanks to Raisa for the best possible company and accommodation during the long weekend!We had great time in the shows thank you friends!

19. - 20.11.2011 International Dog Shows - Jyväskylä

Jyväskylä International Dog Shows collected together more than 12 000 dogs.Jyväskylä shows were held at new Jyväskylä Paviljonki exhibition hall that was great place to organise an event big like this one.We had great two days with lovely friends!

On Saturday IWSs were judged under happy and lively Petru Muntean from Romania. Patu took the breed Manta being BOS to him. Patus daughter Saga got CC.Thank you Saana for handling help, you were an angel!On Sunday IWSs were judge under Frank Kane from UK.Manta took BOS, Coop BM2 and Patu BM4. Patus lovely son was BM3.Thank you for this lovely weekend at Jyväskylä!

29.10.2011 International Dog Show - Seinäjoki

Seinäjoki International Dog Show was held at Seinäjoki Areena, which is one of my favorite places for the show.This year our ring was located on the side of the main area with horrible slippery floor covered with even more awful carpets that most of the dogs were really afraid of.Coop was moving like a dream and showing the best of himself:)

Our judge was Christian Geelmuyden from Norway.Coop took BOS with CACIB.

22.10.2011 Main Spaniel Specialty Show - Hyvinkää

I have been complaining about the weather every year during the Main Spaniel Specialty Show,but this year we did not have show neither we had even a little bit of cold. The darkness was still there:)I am happy to say that after this show we did not saw the darkness either!

This year the Main Spaniel Specialty was judged under Kathy Gorman from UK and we had more than excellent day!Coop took the breed, Patu being BM2 and Manta BOS and BOB -veteran.Patus son and daughter both achieved CCs! So we could say that everything came into family:)I am so proud of these furry friends and their lovely owners!

Manta continued our great day in the big ring taking both BEST IN SHOW VETERAN 3 and BOS BIS-3!!!She was looking absolutely the best!Both BIS -veteran and BOS -BIS were judged under Anna Theresa Stuifbergen-Hoetjes from Netherland.

Thank you friends for this amazing day!And thank you Petra once again taking us into your home!

17.09.2011 Blood Tracking Test - Finnish Championship Test - Pomarkku

This year Finnish Championship Test was organised by Finnish Spaniel Association at Pomarkku on Southern part of Finland at Riuttaansalmen area near Kynäs river.Semifinals were held on Saturday and finals on Sunday and this time all the 19 regional champions present.The whole test was perfectly organised and the whole place was just totally beautiful!I was more than happy and proud to be there and represent our region with Totti who was just enjoying the attention:)

On Saturday morning we were divided into three groups 6 dogs each group. The group got two judges; ours was Lea Foudilainen (just like last FC test 2008 at Hamina) and Toni Tunkkari.

The landscape was quite demanding compared to ours consisting large rocks and quite wide ditches.I was really proud of Totti even he had a little swim in a large ditch at the beginning of our track:)He did excellent job with Winners 1st 42/41/50 points!I was more than happy of this curly brown one among the normal labradors and retrievers!This was an experience that I will never forget!

10.09.2011 Blood Tracking Test - Kokkola

Jokilaaksojen Mäyräkoirat ry organised blood tracking test for the first time at Kokkola.I thought the landscape was quite nice and ofcourse perfect company!

Totti got Winners 1st with 46 / 50 points.He had more than fun after being tracking with his favorite person Anna-Lena who was being our track quide.He just had to say hello to her in the middle of the track:) You should have seen the expression in his face:)Our judge was Torsten Lerstand.

Our Regional Championship Test was held at Kruunupyy.Only six dogs based on their results from the running season are qualified to attend and naturally last years champion.Totti was one of them and the only spaniel! So we had a lot of to represent.

We got the track number 4, meaning that Totti would be the dog starting on the fourth.Our track was excellently made and layd in perfect landscape, I was more than happy!

The excitement was huge when results were read in the end of the day in our hunting cabin!I knew that Totti did perfect job, but there is always a question that was it perfect enough!This time it was and Totti got Winners 1st with full 50 / 50 points!!

He qualified to attend on Finnish Championship Test in blood tracking andis also Regional Champion 2011!!!!!

This is the first time ever when IWS has won Regional Championship Test in Finland!

28.08.2011 International Dog Show - Tervakoski

The last outside show of the summer season and I was more than happy for that!Dark clouds were circling the show area the whole day and naturally we also got some drops.This summer really has been the wet one!

Coop took BOS and Manta BB2 and BOB -veteran under Tuula Savolainen.

10.08.2011 Blood Tracking Test - Pedersöre

Our blood tracking season started a little bit later compared the years before,I just thought it would be better to first complete my needed training and test judgings to qualify as a judge.And I did receive my official 'card' in the end of June.

Totti started our season with style achieving Winners 1st with 47/50 points.This was Tottis first test after almost a year break, but he surely knows what he is doing.Our judge was Torsten Lerstrand.

07.08.2011International Dog Show - Kuopio

This year it was just one International Show in Kuopio instead of the trible show weekend that is held every second year.

After alterations in judging schedule IWSs were judged for the first time under Finnish judge Markku Kipinä.Coop took the breed Manta being BOS and BOB -veteran.

FCI -group 8 was judged under Ekaterina Senashenko from Russia who for all of our suprise placed Coop as GROUP-2!!!!Coop was showing once again very beautifully! He was just flying in ring!!!

So during the same weekend we got 2 GROUP placements! We were more than happy and proud of our brown curly friends!!!!

Thank you Petra once again for the great weekend!! even it was raining again!!!

06.08.2011 National Dog Show - Saarijärvi

In rainy Saarijärvi the day was totally Mantas! She was just showing beatifully!First she took the breed under Lena Danker from Finland and ended up being placed BEST IN GROUP 4.Coop was BOS.

We were more than happy about our grand old lady!!!

30.07.2011 International Dog Show - Pori

In Pori the breed was judged under Jef Verrees from Belgium.Coop took the breed Patus lovely daughter Saga being BOS and also NEW FINNISH SHOW CHAMPION!Congratulations Saga and Sanna! You looked just lovely!!!Manta was BB3 and BOB -veteran and also short listed in the veteran group.

Thank you Sanna and Petra!!!

24.07.2011 International Dog Show - Tornio

Thunder, lightning and rain that was our day in Tornio!I have never been in the ring before when it has been that dark and just flashing all around us.

The breed and group was judged by Jukka Kuusisto from Finland who finally selected Coop as GROUP-3!!!

Thank you Hanna for the great company, at least our pizza was good.It was also really nice to meet Synnove and her lovely lagottos! Congratulations for the new show champion!

16. - 17.07.2011International Dog Show - Oulu

Traditional Oulu double International Show weekend was this year more than special for us!I think this will be one of the weekends that we will never forget.We got 2 BEST IN SHOW -placements during the one weekend in one of the biggest shows in Finland.

On Saturday the breed was judged by Jose Homem de Mello from Portugal.Coop took the breed Manta being BOS and BOB -veteran and Patus lovely son took CC.

The veteran group was huge after in this show all the FCI -groups were judged during one day.If we counted right there were more than 80 lovely veterans.Veteran group was judged by Soile Bister from Finland.

And what did Manta!!! was placed BEST IN SHOW VETERAN 3!!!!This was totally amazing!!!! We were so proud of our lovely granny!!!

Thank you Matti to take these lovely photos during the show!

On Sunday we continued showing under Monika Blaha from Austria.Breed results were the same as the day before.

FCI group 8 was judged by M-L Dopplereiter from Austria.Coop won the group!!!!!

Finally Coop was selected BEST IN SHOW 4 under Luis Pinto Teixeira from Portugal!!!!We were flying high!!!Coop was showing absolutely wonderful and I was really proud of him!!!!!

AMAZING WEEKEND!!!!!!Thank you all and especially our lovely friends cheering up during the BIS ring!And Matti and Eva all the help and Petra once again!

03.07.2011 International Dog Show - Kokkola

Home town show!I must say that the show ground in Kokkola is totally one of the best in Finlandwith absolutely fine taken care large grass field area.We are really lucky to have a place like that in Kokkola

This was Coops first show after long spring break and started once again more than fine!IWS's were judged by Csaba Zsolt Lokodi from Romania Coop being BOB.Coop ended up being placed as GROUP -3 under highly appreciated spaniel judge Laurent Pichard from Austria.

Really really nice day with friends!!!

29.05.2011 National Dog Show - Tuuri

Wet wet wet, cold cold cold, it was raining almost the whole day!

In Tuuri IWSs were judge under Matti Luoso from Finland.Patu was BOB.

21. - 22.05.2011 International Dog Show & IWS Specialty 2011 - Hamina

This year our IWS Specialty was held at the same time with the International Dog Show in Hamina.The show ground Hamina Bastion is totally lovely, but Hamina is the furthest place if you are travelling from Kokkola.We were lucky that Raisa and her family promised to take us her house to spend the weekend, thank you for that!We had great time!

At the International Show during the first day IWSs were judged under Finnish lady Elena Ruskovaara.Patu won males and ended up being BOS and Manta BB-4 and BOB-veteran.Manta was also shortlisted in the huge veteran group!!

IWS Specialty was judged under Frederica Lochs-Romans from Netherlands.Patu took BOS and Manta was BB-2 and naturally BOB -veteran.Patus daughter Saga took BOB and Patus son was BM-4.Can we do any better!!! I am so proud of you all!!!

Thank you once again Raisa and her lovely family for this great weekend!!!Sad that you are living so so so so far!!!!

23. - 24.04.2011 International Dog Show - Tampere

IWSs were judged under totally new acquaintance Genevieve Stephen from France.Patu took the breed and Patus son Repe got CC!!!So we had quite lovely day!

23. - 24.04.2011 Easter International Shows - Lahti & Lappeenranta

Easter International Shows were held how luckyly for us Eastern part of Finland in Lahti and Lappeenranta.Places that are in my opinnion the most difficult to travel, so we decided to spend our whole Easter holiday there.We had great time with Patus son!

Our tournee started by Lahti Show were IWSs were judged under Paula Heikkinen-Lehkonen.Patu took the breed and Patus lovely son got his 1st CACIB!!! We were so proud of these lovely boys!!!

Lappeenranta INT Show was held on Sunday and there IWSs were judged under Leni Finne also from Finland.Patu was again BOB!

Thank you for this great Easter holiday!!! I really needed this!!!

08. - 10.03.2011 Training for new Blood Tracking Judges - Padasjoki

I was lucky to be one of the 7 new blood tracking judges trained every second year,this year at Padasjoki.Interesting weekend with interesting information to learn!

Thank you 'teachers' Rauno, Heikki, Taina and Mikko!And ofcourse old and new friends!!!

25.03.2011 Middle Ostrobothnia Kennel District - AGM

Middle Ostrobothnia Kennel Distric had once again their AGM where theyrewarded the best dogs in several categories.

Totti was rewarded as the WORKING DOG OF THE YEARand Coop as the SHOW DOG OF THE YEAR

19.-20.03.2011 Lithuanian Winner and Vilnius Winner 2011

Quality trip to Lithuania and Vilna with Patu and great company.We have been in Vilna before during our Baltia tournee 2007 andknew that the place that we were going is going to be just great! And it still was!!!I think this year even better!

After few alterations IWSs were judged by Leila Kärkäs from Finland on Saturday Lithuanian Winner Show Patu taking BOB and one more title before his name LTV-11.He was also shortlisted in the group among 6 other beautiful dogs.

On Sunday at Vilnius Winner Show IWSs were judged under Vera Smirnova from Estonia.He just loved Patu and made him BOB and Vilnius Winner 2011.In the group ring under the same judge Patu was placed BIG-2!!!

I was also honoured to show few new friends Vippi and Bosse:)Thank you Lotta and Saila.

Greatest thanks once again belongs to our great travel mates and company!!!Thank you all!! and see you next time!!

24.02.2011 K-PKK AGM- 2011

Our local Dog Club Keski-Pohjanmaan Koirakilta ry had AGM.I was honoured to be elected back to the board of directors of K-PKK .Besides of new board selection, one of the highlight of this meeting is to reward the best dogs of the past year.

This year the award of the 'Tracking Dog of the Year' was given to Totti!!He has had such a amazing year with great results!I will be always thankful to Seidi and Florence for letting me to have this lovely dog!This year the award of the 'Show Dog of the Year' was the 4th time in a row given to us.This year it was Coops turn to achieve the award.This award is given to a dog with the highest score in national and internationals shows both in Finland and abroad.

12.02.2011 Champion of Champions & Veteran of Veterans - Helsinki

Every year the finest show dogs in Finland compete at the Champion of Champions & Veteran of Veterans charity Gala (CoC & VoV). The gala has been arranged for many years by the Helsinki Kennel Club. The aim of the gala is to support working dogs in their important work and to celebrate great show dogs.

The CoC & VoV gala was held at the Fur Centre in Vantaa on the 12th of January. This year 125 top winning show dogs and 75 top winning veterans have been invited to the gala.We were really lucky to have Patu, Manta and Coop invited this year!

The CoC & VoV competition is similar to a match show. The dogs enter the show ring in pairs and the judges choose, which dog will continue to compete, the other dog is eliminated. This procedure is followed until there is only one pair left. The winner of the last pair matched is the Champion of Champions or the Veteran of Veterans. In between the judging there is a dinner.

The Champion of Champions are chosen by three judges. This year they will be Mr András Korózs from Hungary, Mr Kresten Scheel from Denmark and Mrs Marja Talvitie from Finland. Unfortunately Mr Kresten Scheel got sick and Saija Juutilainen replaced him.The three judges judging the Champion of Champions have one vote each for every pair of dogs matched. They have to show their vote to the audience. The dog that gets the most votes wins.

The CoC & VoV is a festive gala and the handlers of the dogs as well as the audience are dressed accordingly. The dinner is a buffet dinner with wine. There are charity lotteries held during the evening and the public is given a try at guessing the winners.

Greatests thanks to Saana for all the help!!!!!

29.01.2011 Limited Dog Show - Raahe

Raahe LS show is one of our traditional shows in Finland.This show always has such a pleasant atmosphere so it is great to attend.It is also a great place to meet our friends from Nothern Finland.

IWSs were judged under Elena Ruskovaara from Finland.Patu was BOB and ended up being BIG-3!He is looking really amazing as always!!! but most of all we had such a fun at show!!!I could see that he was just enjoying being the only dog I had with me:)Thank you Hanna we had such a great trip with our lovely dogs!Thank you also Alina taking these lovely photos of Patu!

23.01.2011 International Dog Show - Turku

One of the biggest International Dog Shows in Finland gathered together almost 7 000 dogs in Turku,that has really ideal place to organise this scale of event.Sadly this time of the year the trip to Turku is not always so pleasing.

IWSs were judged under Norman Deschuymere from Belgium.As far as I am aware of this was the first time ever he made IWSs in Finland.With a quite strict line, he did quite nice job:)Coop took the breed and Patus son took CC and these were the only dogs competing for the best male.So we were quite happy!

FCI group 8 was judged under Göran Bodegård from Sweden who did our Winner Show few years ago.We were really aware that he has been seeing nice IWSs before making the group even more exciting.And it was more than exciting!Coop won the group!!!! What a feeling to be selected BEST IN GROUP in a show like this!Coop was moving like a dream making me more than proud of him!One more memorable moment!

Our few seconds of fame:) (click this)''Scissors bite. Very nice masculine head. Very good muzzle. Good eyes and earset.Very good neck. Good body. Good angulations. Good coat. Very good movement. Good tail.'

08.01.2011 International Dog Show - Kajaani

Traditionally our year begins with the show held in Kajaani.Last year the airdome was cold as ever, but this year it was actually quite nice.We had nice day with Marita!

IWSs were judged under Karl-Erik Johanssson from Sweden.Coop took the breed with excellent critique.

Our Highlights of the Year 2010

After the surprising and slightly sad year of 2009, this year has been much more grateful with full of happy and memorable moments! We have been blessed with much better luck both in health and happiness!And this was shown during the year, we did pretty amazing job both in shows and tests!

We finished our show season beautifully at Helsinki Winner shows; Patu taking the breed first in Helsinki Winner Show and Coop in Winner Show. In addition grand old lady Manta sealed the whole show season by winning the bitches at Winner Show making her IWS of the Year 2010!!! She is at the age of 9!!!! Coop is #1 IWS show male in Finland and also the Spaniel of the Year 2010!

Besides of showing we had also great year in tests. Totti took straight 1st prize results in blood tracking being the best in our regionand executed one of my dreams by passing Tracking Test of Injured Deers (VAHI).This made him finally #1 Working IWS in Finland!

Here are some more of our the most memorable moments:

Totti#1 Working IWS in Finland 2010The first and only IWS that has participated and passed Tracking Test of Injured Deers (VAHI)Top qualifier with the highest points to Regional Championship Test in Blood Tracking8 * 1st prize in Winners Class in Blood TrackingTop Tracking Dog in our region 2010PatuSwedish Winner 2010Nordic Winner 2010 Helsinki Winner 2010FCI 8 Group WinnerBest in Show 3 at Main Spaniel SpecialtyBest in Show – 3 placementInvited to Champion of Champions 2011

Coop#1 Show IWS male in FinlandSpaniel of the Year 2010Winner 2010Estonian Show ChampionFCI 8 Group Winner5 * Group-2, Group-3, Group-4, Invited to Champion of Champions 2011MantaIWS of the Year 2010Winner 2010BOS at IWS Club Show 2nd time in a rowBest in Show 2 and 4 veteran at International ShowInvited to Veteran of Veterans 2011We all want to thank you for all of your support and caring during the 2010!!!Thank you also all the judges for all the appreciation!

Once again the greatest thanks goes to my parents taking such a good care of my boys as always when needed,and Petra and Manta for these memorable moments during the year,and Anna-Lena, Marita and Kalle for great companion and just for being there when ever needed!and Hanna taking such a good care of us by solving always all our food issues!!